While the man has finally acknowledged Nobel Committee’s decision, I thought it’d be a good idea to bask in the glory of some of his finest material with an album that celebrates the ‘inward-poet’ in him. After all he got the big Prize for Literature, didn’t he?

Released in 1975, ‘Blood On The Tracks’ is a personal journey into the nuances of a relationship-downhill. Bod Dylan was going through a break up with his then wife, Sara, and he turned that experience into forever, for us. Before this, he was writing about the world and what’s wrong with it, the way it should be and the way it will be. He was also writing about characters like Mack the Finger and Louie the King. This was the first time he was talking about himself. Hence, the ‘inward-poet’ poet bit.

Allow me to concentrate on the poetic quality of the album, one by one.

Tangled Up In Blues

Influenced by Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ and Cubism, the song is a multi-dimensional tale of a love, that’s not around anymore. Moving from present to past, from first person to third person, Dylan paints a tasteful abstract painting.

She was married when we first met Soon to be divorced I helped her out of a jam, I guess But I used a little too much force

Covered by many later, this remains one of the finest songs ever written.

Simple Twist Of Fate

More linear than the previous one.

He woke up, the room was bare He didn’t see her anywhere He told himself he didn’t care, pushed the window open wide Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate Brought on by a simple twist of fate Once again, covered by many, including a bad version by Joan Baez

You’re A Big Girl Now

Here the poet has accepted the reality with a sense of regret and perhaps wants to get back together.

Love is so simple, to quote a phrase You’ve known it all the time, I’m learnin’ it these days Oh, I know where I can find you, oh, oh In somebody’s room It’s a price I have to pay You’re a big girl all the way

Idiot Wind

The wind becomes the witness to the break up.

Idiot wind, blowing through the buttons of our coats Blowing through the letters that we wrote Idiot wind, blowing through the dust upon our shelves We’re idiots, babe It’s a wonder we can even feed ourselves

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

Dylan says it was Chekhov, I say it was Sara (again)…but whoever it was, such outstanding writing.

I’ve seen love go by my door It’s never been this close before Never been so easy or so slow Been shooting in the dark too long When somethin’s not right it’s wrong Yergonna make me lonesome when you go

Meet Me In The Morning

An unusual blues track where the pain continues.

They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn But you wouldn’t know it by me Every day’s been darkness since you been gone

Lily , Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts

Long list of characters. Scripts have been written on this. Joan Baez created Diamonds and Rust basis this. Story-telling at its best.

The cabaret was empty now, a sign said, “Closed for repair” Lily had already taken all of the dye out of her hair She was thinkin’ ’bout her father, who she very rarely saw Thinkin’ ’bout Rosemary and thinkin’ about the law But most of all she was thinkin’ ’bout the Jack of Heart

If You See Her, Say Hello

Lost love. Falling out. Crying words.

If you get close to her, kiss her once for me I always have respected her for busting out and I’ free Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won’t stand in the way Though the bitter taste still lingers on from the night I tried to make her stay

Shelter from the Storm

Someone is trying to rescue our poet in this song, quietly.

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm “Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Buckets of Rain

E Major. Open tuning. Acoustic and Bass guitar. And the lyrics are playfully sad.

Like your smile and your fingertips Like the way that you move your lips I like the cool way you look at me Everything about you is bringing me misery

Musically speaking, the LP is beautiful as well, with some soulfulsinging by the man. But what will stay with us forever, is the poetic quality and that intense emotional spontaneity.

On a personal note, the album helped me through amajor heartbreak thatI still haven’t gotten over. What a useless little album!

Year:1975

Genre: Folk Rock

Duration: 51:42

Label: Columbia

Producer: Bob Dylan

Rating: *****

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 25 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com .